Fresh Pond

Distribution

View of the distribution network mural on CWD lobby floor. For more information about the distribution of Cambridge water, see the Distribution Homepage.

City of Cambridge Water Department

The Cambridge Water Department (CWD) is a municipally owned and operated water utility serving over 100,000 permanent residents. The department is under the general direction of the City Manager, while a five-member Water Board, made up of Cambridge residents appointed by the City Manager, serves as an advisory group to the Department. The CWD is regulated by Federal and State drinking water codes and is comprised of three major divisions: Administration Division, Water Operations Division, and the Engineering and Distribution Division.

Visit the Water Department

With the Fresh Pond Reservation as a dramatic backdrop, the Walter J. Sullivan Water Purification Facility is located on the former site of the old water works buildings. The consolidated facility footprint - the purification, maintenance and administrative operations are under one roof. Vegetation and plantings are primarily native species designed to create an "urban wild" appearance.

Mission

The mission of the Department is to provide a safe, adequate and uninterrupted water supply of the highest quality to the citizens of Cambridge.

Water Treatment Plant

The water purification plant has a capacity to produce 24 million gallons a day of safe drinking water. The average daily production is approximately 14 million gallons a day. The facility went online in 2001 and is operated 24 hours a day. For more details see the Water Treatment Page.